It is starting to look like JJ Abrams’ Star Trek prequel/revamp looks as if it is going to feature nearly every incidental character to ever share screen time with Kirk and Spock.
First up is Variety‘s announcement that Winona Ryder will be appearing in the film as the half- human/half-Vulcan Mr. Spock’s human side, his mother Amanda. When the character appeared in the original Trek television series, she was played by Jane Wyatt, who reprised the role for 1986’s Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Sun ran interview this week with Rachel Nichols, whose thriller P2 opened this weekend, where the actress confirmed that she has just been cast in the film as well.
I’m very restricted on what I’m allowed to say… But yes, there’s a good chance you’ll see my shining face in the new Star Trek … My mom even e-mailed me about it because she saw it (online) and I hadn’t told her yet. There’s a lot of buzz about it, but honestly, I don’t even know the name of my character.
Meanwhile, IESB has ferreted out two more casting choices. Based on a spy photo taken on the Paramount lot, the site identified House star Jennifer Morrison in one of the pictures. Although her management confirmed she was in the film, they would not divulge to the site what part she is playing. IESB’s Robert Sanchez seems to think that she may be playing Dr. Carol Marcus, an old flame of Kirk’s who, unbeknownst to him, had a child by him after the two broke up. The character appeared in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (1982) and was played by Bibi Besch. Carol Marcus’s character is reportedly in Abrams’s script for the film.
IESB other casting news is that Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has been cast in the role of Jim Kirk’s father, George Samuel Kirk. The senior Kirk never made an appearance in either series or movie versions of the franchise, though he did appear in some of the Star Trek spin-off novels.
Previously-
STAR TREK Gets A Captain
Who Wants To Be An Extra In STAR TREK?
Comparing The Casts: Star Trek
STAR TREK Casting Finalized?
More STAR TREK News: John Cho Added To Cast As Sulu
A film fan since he first saw that Rebel Blockade Runner fleeing the massive Imperial Star Destroyer at the tender age of 8 and a veteran freelance journalist with twenty-five years experience writing about film and pop culture. He is a member of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle.
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God, Winona Ryder playing Zachary Quinto’s mom. That makes me feel old.
But what’s really creepy is that there’s only five years age difference between the two.
Still, it’s not as bad as Angela Lansbury being only three years older than Lawrence Harvey, but still played his mom in 1962’s Manchurian Candidate!